Can you triple stamp a double stamp on TV?
May 11, 2010 8:21 PM   Subscribe

Are there no take-backsies when it comes to consenting to a television interview?

I was just interviewed by a local TV crew with my wife. At the time - not thinking - we both agreed to to take the questions. A short time later, as visions of this danced through our heads we thought better of the whole thing. I called and asked that we not appear on TV, and the guy in the newsroom told me he would tell the reporter. Are we screwed?
posted by vorpal bunny to Media & Arts (6 answers total)
 
Best answer: They already have the footage. They own that; you do not own what you say during an interview. It's up to them whether or not they use it. You might luck out and the reporter won't use it. But there's no legal reason they have to drop it.

However, you may be able to sue for libel if they intentionally, negatively misrepresent you.
posted by Netzapper at 8:33 PM on May 11, 2010


Netzapper has it. You've done it, you consented, you didn't insist on final cut. It's over. This is why people generally only consent to be on "reputable" television. This said, programs aren't monsters; unless there's a good angle for them to portray you in a certain light, it's probably just what they said it was.
posted by smoke at 8:40 PM on May 11, 2010


Did you say anything untrue and/or slanderous about another person?

That *might* be a possible out, if you can raise a question in the producer's eyes that their footage might be something they'd rather not run.

But that's really grasping, not even a valid legal argument. Sounds like you're out of luck.
posted by Cool Papa Bell at 9:04 PM on May 11, 2010


Response by poster: Dang - now I wish I would have slandered someone. Curses! At the mercy of the local news without even the rush of a high speed chase as payoff. Thanks!
posted by vorpal bunny at 10:18 PM on May 11, 2010


Response by poster: In case anyone is interested we dodged the bullet. I just saw the news piece and we weren't a part of it. Not sure if it had anything to do with asking not to be included, or just the fact that I am too ugly even for grocery store parking lot interviews.
posted by vorpal bunny at 6:49 AM on May 12, 2010


Did something bad happen? Your sound bite was probably not used because you did not come off as "shocked" enough.
posted by L'OM at 9:47 AM on May 12, 2010


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